Manhattan International High School Alumni
New York, New York (NY)
Lauren Bacall
Film and stage actress and model
What is Lauren Bacall known for?
Lauren Bacall, born as Betty Joan Perske on September 16, 1924, was a renowned American actress and model, who gained significant recognition for her sultry presence, distinctive husky voice and contributions to the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema. Bacall was born in The Bronx, New York City, the only child of Natalie Weinstein-Bacal and William Perske. Her mother hailed from Iași, Romania, and her father was a New Jersey native, with his ancestry tied to Valozhyn, a predominantly Jewish community in present-day Belarus.
Bacall's illustrious career began as a model for the Walter Thornton Model Agency. She made her film debut at the tender age of 20 in 'To Have and Have Not' (1944), where she starred opposite her future husband, Humphrey Bogart. Over the years, Bacall worked in acclaimed movies like 'The Big Sleep' (1946), 'Dark Passage' (1947), 'Key Largo' (1948), 'How to Marry a Millionaire' (1953), and 'Designing Woman' (1957).
She received noteworthy acclaim for her role in 'Written on the Wind' (1956), hailed as one of Douglas Sirk's seminal films. Adding more feathers to her cap, Bacall starred in 'Harper' (1966) with Paul Newman, 'The Shootist' (1976) alongside John Wayne, and found great success on Broadway in musicals like 'Applause' (1970) and 'Woman of the Year' (1981), both performances earning her Tony Awards.
Her performance in 'The Mirror Has Two Faces' (1996) was critically acclaimed, earning her a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and nominations for both a BAFTA and an Academy Award. Towards the latter part of her career, Bacall found popularity among a younger audience with her performances in films such as 'Misery' (1990), 'Dogville' (2003), 'Howl's Moving Castle' (2004), and 'Ernest & Celestine' (2012).
Lauren Bacall, birth name Betty Joan Perske, passed away on August 12, 2014, leaving behind her legacy as a remarkable talent of the Golden Age of Hollywood. For more details about her life and career, you might want to explore her IMDB profile or read up on her in the Biography.